As Julian Burnside tweeted this week:
#qanda Science and Religion shine their light in utterly different places
— julianburnside (@JulianBurnside) February 18, 2013
I am an atheist, and I LOVE science. But I am not anti-religion. Religion is part of who we are as humans, and it serves multiple purposes. Religious people are probably on the whole happier, and more comforted. And we all, somewhere, retain a little bit of religious sentiment, hope or belief, even if we consciously reject it.
My kids were baptized Greek Orthodox, but we don't go to church. They opt in to religious instruction in school, though I would prefer it were not offered. I don't send them to learn ethics or how to be a good person, because you don't need religion for that. I send them because it's a huge part of human culture and society, and because religion gave me some comfort as a child. (Actually I took A out last year, because she hated it. M loves it. A wants to try again this year because her friends go, so we'll see how it goes. I've made it clear she doesn't have to go).
I answer my kids' questions about God and religion honestly (more honestly than I answer their questions about Santa).
Last week my kids learned the truth about the tooth fairy. This year I expect they'll figure out the truth about the Easter Bunny and Santa. But the truth about God and religion is not an easy one and one they will decide for themselves along the way.
Like the books on this trestle table, why can't we all just get along?
I'm not anti-religion either, but I'm sure as hell not for any kind of organisation who preaches discrimination, hate and intolerance.
ReplyDeleteI was raised a good protestant girl, but stopped attending when given the option by my parents in my mid teens. I am somewhat agnostic in that I'm prepared to accept that my tiny brain believes that some force far greater than my comprehension is 'out there' but damned if I know what it is!
Yep - none of us knows at the end of the day, right?
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